I grabbed the pen, eager to sign up as a volunteer at the local pregnancy crisis center. There were several opportunities available: Provide food for meeting – umm, nope not my area; Wash and fold donated baby clothes – ouch! Laundry! I can’t keep up with mine and my hubby’s, much less add more. That’s out; Reception, answer phones – Ahhh, I can handle busy (or not) office phones! I am no stranger to complicated phone systems. I can do this!

My hand trembled. I gripped the pen tighter, poised above the paper that said “Reception/Phones.” Only, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t put pen to paper.  I wanted to help. They needed help. I believed in the work the center was doing.  

I put the pen down and walked away. Without signing up.

The “What if’s” got the better of me when I over analyzed the situation. Sure, it was only answering phones. I’d worked in professional offices long enough to be very comfortable with phone etiquette. But…

What if I say something wrong? What if I discourage a young, pregnant mom by saying the wrong thing? What if she chooses not to come in, and instead seeks an abortion? What if…?

~~~~~~

I’m no stranger to What if situations. Looking back, it seems that me and “What If” have been besties since I was a child! 

“Do you want to ride the ferris wheel?”

“Nooooo, what if it gets stuck at the top?”

“How about the roller coaster?”

“Noooo, what if it flies off the tracks?”

How many times do we allow the What Ifs to scare us off?

“Do you want to ________________? (Fill in the blank)” 

“Noooo, what if the absolute worst happens?”

Jesus told the synagogue official in Mark 5:36 “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” But first, we have to figure out what we are  afraid of. That night, fear made me turn my back on a worthy cause. Fear has held me back from many, many opportunities. Often, when we say no to an opportunity, it isn’t because it’s outside of God’s will, but  because it is outside of our comfort zone. We’re not willing, because we fear the unknown. We’re not willing, because we don’t believe. We’re not willing because we imagine the worst case scenario.

In their book Experiencing God, Henry and Richard Blackaby say that when God invites us to join Him in His work, He has a God-sized assignment for us. We realize pretty quickly that we can’t do this on our own, and without God’s help we will fail.

“This is the crisis of belief when you must decide  whether to believe God for what He wants to do through you.” (Experiencing God, page 134)

Do we really believe that God will provide everything we need in order to carry out His will? That Jesus is faithful and He will equip us? Will God really be with us, never leaving or forsaking us? Will He really equip us? Do we believe that God is sovereign and in control of ALL THINGS?

At this point, the best prayer to pray is “God, I don’t want to do this without You. I can’t, without You!”

“Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” Exodus 33:15 NLT

And then?

Believe.

Take a step of faith over fear. 

Sign your name. Volunteer. Face your fear, with God.

Know that in doing God’s will, you WILL have His presence.

Lord God, I believe! Help my unbelief! I want to stand firm and follow Your will, even when it’s outside my comfort zone! Thank You Jesus, for equipping me and holding me tight even when I am fearful. Amen

Grace be with you,

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the weekends, my husband and I like to have the shades pulled completely down, so that we can get an extra hour of sleep without the sun shining in to wake us. The shades are the blackout, room darkening type. And let me tell you they work! 

Often times (at my age…) I need to get up in the middle of the night for water or the bathroom. It’s those times I can’t see my hand in front of my face! I’m so thankful that my cell phone has a light. It isn’t very bright, but in the total blackness, it is like a beacon shining. It lights my path, wherever I need to go.

Many times, when I feel the Lord’s urging to do something new for Him, I hesitate. Why? Because I can’t see the way and the how. I’m a process driven person, and I just can’t figure out how He wants me to do what He has asked me to do! And you know what? It scares me to step out into the darkness, not being able to see my way clearly.

Do you feel like that? Has God called you into an area of service, and you are petrified to take that first step, lest you fall?

“The Lord God is a sun and shield…” Ps 84:11a

Here’s what I always forget during those times of fear: The Lord God is my sun. He will shine His light and show me the way. I only need to take the first step. Then His light will illuminate further, and enable me to take the next step. He is my sunlight to guide me in times of darkness and fear.

But what then? We’ve taken that first step. In faith, we are beginning to serve where He has led. But what if…what if we totally mess up! What if Satan throws obstacles in our well lit path, so we become discouraged?

The Lord God is a sun AND a shield. 

Ahhhh, a shield. A small defensive frame used to block blows or other forms of attack.

God is our shield – He defends us! He blocks those attacks that may discourage us or make us fearful. He is ever present and on guard to protect us. Did you hear that? HE WILL PROTECT US. Rest in that truth!

Our faithful God will light the path He has set before us. Not only that, He will protect us as we travel where He leads. We need only to cling to Him.

Grace be with you,